[Christopher Lincoln]

The mainstream media of the time not only kept quiet about the Kennedys' behavior, sexual and otherwise, but affirmatively helped to draw a false picture. How false it was, most Americans did not learn until the Chappaquiddick tragedy, which the press could not get out of reporting. The spectacle of these middle-aged married men running around with young women (obviously not their wives) revealed a whole new world. Of course, we were always hearing that businessmen were like that (do you remember The Apartment?). But they were the private sector; the men who governed us couldn't be like that, could they?

[lunarbicep]

The spectacle of these middle-aged married men running around with young women (obviously not their wives) revealed a whole new world

from Ted's televised statement to the nation on 7 - 25 - 69:

On the weekend of July 18th, I was on Martha's Vinyard Island participating with my nephew, Joe Kennedy, as for 30 years my family has participated in the annual Edgartown Sailing Regatta. Only reasons of health prevented my wife from accompanying me.

On Chappaquiddick Island off Martha's Vinyars, I attended on Friday evening, July 18th, a cookout I had encouraged and helped sponsor for a devoted group of Kennedy campaign secretaries. When I left the party around 11:15 PM, I was accompanied by one of these girls, Miss Mary Jo Kopechne. Mary Jo was one of the most devoted members of the staff of Senator Robert Kennedy. She worked for him for four years and was broken up over his death. For this reason and because she was such a gentle, kind and idealistic person, all of us tried to help her feel that she still had a home with the Kennedy family.

for the entire statement:
http://www.ytedk.com/tvstatement.htm